Mapping and surveillance of active fissure zones on a volcano by the self-potential method, Etna, Sicily

Abstract The self-potential (S.P.) method, often employed in base-metal exploration, has successfully been applied to volcanological problems. Test surveys on the site of Mount Etna (Sicily) have revealed some positive anomalies as high as a few hundred millivolts over recent and old eruptive fissures. The S.P. technique allows one to determine the precise location of the fissures. The interpretation of the geophysical results (including S.P.), taking into account the structure of Mount Etna, has shown two important zones upon which several S.P. investigations have been carried out. Studies of the causes of these S.P. anomalies have shown the importance of the streaming potential as the principal source mechanism.